All of the available guards had finished amassing, those out on missions obviously unable to be recalled at this time. The air was tense, a grim sensation filling the training grounds, everyone’s eyes on Amalarys. She stood at the far end, surrounded by the horde of guards. For all of the bodies we had present, would this truly be enough to save the city? We could only hope so.

“Thanks for gathering, my noble city guard. We stand at the precipice of a crisis. A city-tier spike feeder is coming for Titan City, the impact projected for a few hours from now. This is what we’ve been training for all this time. Only our combined strength can defeat the monster that threatens our city. Now I know all of your team leaders have been briefed on the actions required for a code black. After we conclude my explanation, you will split from your regular squads. Yes, I know, it sounds impractical to remove that trained synergy, but that pales in comparison to the requirements needed to combat a city-tier beast. Some of your attacks might be suitable, but only the strongest and most directly suited will be brought to attack the monster.”

The implications of the speech started to flood throughout the crowd, emotions rippling when seeing them mirrored in the other nearby faces. The great looming dread at the thought of a monster potent enough to destroy a city, the anticipation of putting one’s life on the edge, the stark realization that one’s life could vanish like an ephemeral moment in the wind. I could see the recognition on Amalarys’s face, her lips quickly moving past the natural buffer to try and divert away from the existential crisis amongst the guard.

“The reports of what the spike feeder looks sum up to the following information. It’s estimated to be around 100 feet tall and 120 feet long. It’s quadrupedal, with a comparatively small tail, perhaps able to be considered vestigial. It has three heads, each with a large trunk, big floppy ears, beady eyes and a cavernous mouth. Its capabilities are uncertain, but based on prior records, you should assume it will kill you if you get hit by it. This isn’t a suggestion to test your defenses. If you manage to survive the first hit, you will likely be in no state to endure the second. Do not be reckless in our engagement with the monster. Caution is key to enduring. Of course, it goes without saying that it is covered in spikes, horrid spires around the size of buildings. You don’t have to be concerned about being punctured by one because you will be outright skewered if it comes into contact with you.”

She sighed, pulling out some papers from her pocket, digging for other details that she seemed to have forgotten. “Of note is that it is covered in parasites, for lack of a better term. Consider them flying person-tier spike feeders, although they lack the same features as a regular beast. Our records saw them attacking in the same area as the monster’s path, suggesting that we will have to keep an eye out for a secondary swarm while dealing with the beast. I hope the gravity of the threat is now clear, and what the threat is composed of is understood. We don’t have full information on its capacities, so whenever engaging with the beast act as though it could hit you at any moment. While it is hulking and lumbering forward, its trunks look to be prehensile and faster than the rest of its body.”

Murmurs spread through the crowd, fears condensing into panicked words. Unable to tolerate the criss, Amalarys let out a commanding shout, my colleagues and I jolted out of our emotional states into a condition of confusion. “No more panicking. Panic leads to death. The evacuation plan starts with leading the citizens into the recently mostly cleaned out Old Titan City through the various access points. The nobles will be made aware of this and help funnel in the citizens. Select groups of the guard will shepherd the people down to the city below, aiming to minimize the impact on the people of our city. The buildings themselves will likely be destroyed, but if we can save the people, we can always rebuild.”

“In turn, the guards dedicated to taking down the spike feeder will strike at the theorized weak points. Joints, eyes and other common weaknesses. Even if the beast is gigantic, it should be just as vulnerable in the same places as a much smaller one. We don’t know how hardy its dermis will be, so we’re focusing our attacks in tandem, with the hope that even a sturdy exterior can be pierced by a dedicated effort.”

A hush fell over the crowd, our thoughts focused on the impending battle. “I want to be clear here. You’re all doing a great service for the city and your friends and family. There’s no easy way to plan for this kind of situation. We’ll simply do the best we can. Watch out for each other. We only have one life to live. Don’t waste it.”

“As for the captains of each team, you already know where to go. Those with beast souls best oriented for attacking, assemble on my left. The others will be allocated to the evacuation efforts on the right. If you aren’t sure, ask your team leader and they’ll point you in the right direction. This is no longer a matter of group strength, given many of your squads are built to diversify your talents. This is a matter of focusing pure power to subdue the monster. If you have a problem with it, survive the attack and grow stronger, and then come back to me. Until then, focus on your job. You’ll be picked up by another team leader and join their efforts— again, this was already prepared so don’t over think this. Just get into position, alright? Good. Go.”

She clapped her hands and the crowd started to part, bodies shuffling with a focused purpose. I looked to Javier, wanting confirmation for my peace of mind, and he nodded for me to go towards the evacuation efforts. I started heading over to the other group, noting with a sinking sensation that only Mia was coming along. Evidently Vera’s new techniques were considered effective enough to allow her presence on the attackers side.

“Who do you think we’ll end up with?” I whispered to her, feeling at a loss. This was the first time we would meaningfully interact with the rest of the guard. Our pilot program as prey beast souls meant isolation in our need to train harder than the others. What they could make up for in inherent strength we had to scrape at, efforts clawing to show fruition. They could apply half the effort and come out ahead, claws naturally meant to rend while mine could only poison.

“I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out,” Mia said, betraying no fear. The horde around us echoed similar concerns albeit with less tension, some relieved that they wouldn’t be on the front lines. I didn’t know how they could stay so calm. Their friends were at risk. I was sweating at the thought of the rest of the team coming into contact with the beast. From what Amalarys said, it sounded as though death was a question of ‘when’, not a statement of ‘if’. Some of them chattered as though it was just a casual day in the cafeteria, not the impending moments before our home was doomed. They were either excessively confident in the actions of the others or blithely unaware, and I couldn’t fathom which was worse.

“Oh, hello there. You two are with me,” spoke a broad-shouldered man about Mia’s height. His tan skin was covered in scars, but his cheeky smile stood out in contrast to his body’s storied remnants. His chest was like barrels and arms like tree trunks. If this man wasn’t appropriate for the spike feeder squad, perhaps we weren’t so poorly off. The others had to be even more impressive than him, right?

He caught my glances at his body, grinning at my confused expression. “My beast soul is that of a Great White. Great for aquatic missions and less dangerous land ones. Not so great for dealing with a humongous monster. The name’s Lenny. I’d like to say I’m good pals with Javier, whenever he’s around, but Amalarys runs him ragged with the constant missions. I wish he’d be able to sit this one out but all hands are needed as long as they’re remotely available, no exceptions. All for the greater good, you know.”

We were grouped up with another two guardsmen who didn’t deign to introduce themselves, one a sallow girl with long dark hair, the other an equally skinny and dark haired man. The more I looked at the two of them, the more they looked the same. Lenny caught my gaze and chuckled. “Of course you’d notice them. That’s Marie and Ed, the Hyena twins. They’re not the strongest fighters but they’re my fighters, and they’re good people, if not silent ones.”

I shrugged, unwilling to argue with Lenny about his usual squad. It wouldn’t have been polite to disparage him given he seemed to be looking after Mia and I as a favor to Javier. Mia, however, was ever the opportunist. “Pleased to meet you Marie and Ed. I hope we can work well together during this crisis.”

The twins locked eyes and said nothing, Lenny heartily laughing at their abject silence. “Sorry Mia, they’re prone to speaking little. They’ve got your back, but just as equally no desire to speak on items they believe are inane or pointless. If all goes well, we shouldn’t need to talk too much to each other. While I know your strengths, it might be prudent to share mine as we approach our destination.”

We started heading out of the training grounds not unlike the others teams, everyone getting into position. Our group was moving towards the noble district, while some stragglers split up from their teams, spreading throughout the city. “They’re going to ring the bells once everyone’s a bit further in position. The people need their signal to evacuate, you know?”

I nodded, pretending I knew. I hadn’t noticed any bells around the city. Perhaps they were hidden for special occasions.

“Anyway, my beast soul should help quite nicely in our more evacuation focused preparation. It gives me quite the sense of smell, especially when it comes to blood. If worst comes to worse, it’ll help us find wounded survivors and be aware of any impending parasite attacks, although from what Javier told me you won’t have any trouble detecting those, Perry.”

I flushed at the compliment, Lenny’s good cheer already getting to me. His attitude was contagious. Perhaps things wouldn’t be as bad as it seemed. Perhaps there was a chance most of us would make it out of the attack alive, if not mostly intact. Perhaps we could evacuate most of the city and get them to safety.

“We should be there shortly,” Lenny said, interrupting my thoughts. “And not a moment too soon. There goes the bells.” I strained my ears, seeking the noise he was alluding to before realizing it was the dull ringing sensation thudding in the back of my head. I had attributed it to the blood thrumming through my veins, but this was something else altogether. It was the summoning of the people, doors already flung open around us as people started to flee their homes and take to the streets.

We had to pickup the pace to properly ensure that we would be at the right spot to herd the people down into the depths of Old Titan City for their protection. No longer could we take our time. With the bells rung, the evacuation had officially begun, and the city was girding itself for war with the city-tier spike feeder.